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Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics

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By John Hayes, Balyo USA

Economic policies from Industry 4.0, Logistics 4.0, and connected warehouses point to the imperative to lower costs, increase productivity, and guarantee quality. There are as many forklift truck operator positions to be filled as there are IT developer and R&D engineer jobs combined.

In the United States, 65 percent of the businesses surveyed by Deloitte (as part of its annual Supply Chain report) noted that it is “extremely difficult” to hire qualified warehouse labor.

Moving pallets is expensive. One of the global Fast Moving Customer Goods (FMCG) leaders estimates spending “almost 380 million dollars per year” for tasks that create no additional value for the business. [Read more…] about Changing Material Handling Industry Accelerates AGV Robotics

The Future of Robotics in Automotive Manufacturing

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As the UK automotive manufacturing industry gets back on its feet, many carmakers will be looking at innovative ways to safeguard their futures.

Robotics has long been used in the automotive industry, but technological developments are thrusting the industry forward in new and exciting ways. [Read more…] about The Future of Robotics in Automotive Manufacturing

Motional operates driverless vehicles on public roads in Las Vegas

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Motional is operating driverless vehicles on public roads, becoming one of the world’s first companies to do so. The inaugural testing took place in Las Vegas this month and consisted of multiple driverless vehicles safely navigating intersections, unprotected turns, and interactions with other road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

In pursuit of this milestone and a future of safer roads, Motional set a high bar for the industry. The company’s driverless operation follows decades of innovation, 1.5 million miles, and a two-year self-imposed safety evaluation process that took hundreds of employees more than 100,000 hours to complete.

During this process, Motional proactively sought external review. TÜV SÜD, a world-leading independent technical service provider with extensive experience assessing driverless technology, was given access to the company’s proprietary systems, technology, and operations. [Read more…] about Motional operates driverless vehicles on public roads in Las Vegas

SafeLog launches warehouse robots that can operate individually or in a ‘swarm’

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SafeLog has launched warehouse robots that can operate individually or in a “swarm”, and says it offers customised automated guided vehicle solutions that have no need for a control station connection.

The company adds that the latest model of the SafeLog AGV L1 lifts loads of up to 1500 kg.

At present, many processes and systems for internal transport tasks in both, production and intralogistics are in a state of upheaval. [Read more…] about SafeLog launches warehouse robots that can operate individually or in a ‘swarm’

VW partners with Microsoft to build computing platform for autonomous vehicles

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Volkswagen says it is further strengthening its capabilities in the development of autonomous or highly automated driving (AD) solutions with a new partnership with Microsoft.

The Group’s software company Car.Software Organisation will collaborate with Microsoft to build a cloud-based Automated Driving Platform (ADP) on Microsoft Azure and leverage its compute and data capabilities to deliver automated driving experiences even faster at global scale.

With ADP running on Azure, Car.Software Organisation will increase the efficiency of the development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and AD functions for passenger cars across Volkswagen Group brands. [Read more…] about VW partners with Microsoft to build computing platform for autonomous vehicles

BlueBotics’ ANT navigation drives autonomous vehicles over 10 million kilometers

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BlueBotics’ ANT navigation software for warehouse vehicles  is now estimated to have driven automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots over 10 million kilometers.

ANT stands for “automation navigation technology” and has been installed in vehicles used for applications ranging from warehousing and manufacturing to commercial cleaning services, ultra-violet disinfection and more.

Dr Nicola Tomatis, CEO of BlueBotics, says: “The timing of this milestone is perfect as it comes the same month that we celebrate the company’s 20-year anniversary. [Read more…] about BlueBotics’ ANT navigation drives autonomous vehicles over 10 million kilometers

Hyundai unveils new ‘Ultimate’ autonomous vehicle concept

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Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled what it describes as the “Ultimate” autonomous vehicle concept, with the word “ultimate” used part of the category name the company has created. (See video below.)

The TIGER – which stands for Transforming Intelligent Ground Excursion Robot – is the company’s second “Ultimate Mobility Vehicle”, or UMV, and the first designed to be uncrewed.

The “transforming” intelligent ground excursion robot is designed to carry various types of payload while traveling over challenging terrain, says Hyundai. [Read more…] about Hyundai unveils new ‘Ultimate’ autonomous vehicle concept

Baidu launches ‘world’s first’ multi-modal autonomous driving mobility-as-a-service platform

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Baidu, a driverless car developer and China’s equivalent of Google, has launched a multi-modal autonomous driving mobility as a service (MaaS) platform that will provide AI-driven city transportation services in Guangzhou, a city a hundred miles north-west of Hong Kong.

Utilizing a fleet of Apollo Robotaxis and Robobuses along with three other model types of autonomous vehicles, this initiative will allow local users to order smart transport services on demand, starting in the Chinese New Year holiday period.

The implementation of both Baidu Apollo and the ACE Transportation Engine is a testament to the promising commercialization prospects of smart transportation in the intelligent era. [Read more…] about Baidu launches ‘world’s first’ multi-modal autonomous driving mobility-as-a-service platform

GM to supply Navistar with Hydrotec fuel cells for electric vehicles while Volvo and Scania highlight their own electrification initiatives

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General Motors will supply its Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes to truck-making giant Navistar for use in its production model fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) – the International RHTM Series.

Navistar’s FCEV will get energy from two GM Hydrotec fuel cell power cubes.

Each Hydrotec power cube contains 300-plus hydrogen fuel cells along with thermal and power management systems. [Read more…] about GM to supply Navistar with Hydrotec fuel cells for electric vehicles while Volvo and Scania highlight their own electrification initiatives

Kia to develop autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery in Singapore

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Kia is planning to develop a variety of technologies including autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery in Singapore.

The company has begun to lay the groundwork for its “Purpose Built Vehicle” (PBV) business, partnering with cold chain start-up S.lab Asia to break into Singapore’s last-mile delivery market.

The two companies have signed an agreement aimed at launching a pilot project in Singapore using the e-Niro and evaluating the potential for a future PBV-based business model. [Read more…] about Kia to develop autonomous vehicles for last-mile delivery in Singapore